Flush tank ball operator



G. R. DRISKILL FLUSH TANK BALL OPERATOR Filed Jan. 17, 1949 GEOEGE IQ. DQ/S'K/LL,

1N VEN TOR.

HTTOENE'VS Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a flush tank or valve mechanism, and in particular to an apparatus or mechanism adapted to be used with a flush tank for guiding and supporting the tank ball of the flush tank;

It is well known that after a period of use it is not unusual for the mechanism or apparatus within the flush tank to become jammed, and one of the reasons for this is the fact that the lift rod which supports the tank ball turns or twists relative to the lift arm and the lift arm and lift rod do not properly engage, resulting in springing and jamming of the lift rod.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting the tank ball wherein means are provided to positively prevent rotating, turning, or twisting of the lift rod during operation of the mechanism.

Another reason for jamming of the mechanism is that the guide for the lift rod in prior devices has not been of satisfactory construction, and another object of the present invention is to provide a satisfactory guide which will prevent any possibility of jamming or springing of the lift rod.

Still another cause of jamming is that the lever or levers connecting the lift arm and the tripping lever of the flush tank become stuckor tangled, and another object of the present invention is to eliminate this jamming by providing a chain to connect the lift arm and the tripping lever.

l-IAnother object of the present invention is to provide a stop to limit downward movement of the lift rod andthe tank ball to prevent collapse of the tank ball and for lessening chances of jamming.

,With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 discloses an elevation view of a flush tank with part of the tank broken away to show the flush tank mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view in section of the device for guiding the lift rod; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view along the lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, Fig. 1 discloses the flush tank In with a cover H, said flush tank being provided with an overflow pipe [2 which is supaccompanying drawing ported from the base of the flush tank It. A seat I4 is provided for the tank ball 15, said tank ball being connected to and supported by a lift rod l6.

Means providing a plurality of elongated parallel passageways are provided in the flush tank and comprise the elongated body member H! which has passageways I9, 20, and 2|, passageway having the lower end thereof closed by portions of the body member IS. The lift rod l6 rides within passageway 20, said passageway being somewhat larger than the diameter of the lift rod to allow some play of the lift rod during its movement but guiding the lift rod so that there is no possible springing or jamming of the lift rod.

The body member [8 is supported from the overflow pipe l2 by means of clamps 2t and threaded adapters 25, clamp'Z l being of the twopart construction having screws 27 adapting the clamp 24 to be clamped about overflow pipe I2. Each of the threaded adapters 25 has one end thereof with left-hand threads and the other end thereof with right-hand threads, and the clamps 24 and body member I8 are suitably threaded to receive the threaded adapters 25. By this construction upon rotation or turning of the threaded adapters 25 the body member l8 and therefore the lift rod l6 and the tank ball 15 are moved away from or toward the overflow pipe 12 so that the tank ball l5 may be positioned directly above its seat Hi. Lock nuts 29 are provided on the opposite ends of threaded adapters 25 so that whenever the correct position of the body member is located so that the tank ball seats correctly on its seat, then these look nuts 29 are threaded up against the clamps 24 and body member l8 to lock the parts in their adjusted position. The upper end of lift rod I6 is bent to form an eye 30, said eye fitting on a supporting bar 3|. Guide rods 32 and 33 are provided for the mechanism, guide rod 32 fitting within passageway l9 and guide rod 33 fitting within passageway 2!, the upper ends of said guide rods being formed to provide eyes 34 and 35 which fit on supporting bar 3|. Spacers 31 are provided on supporting bar 3! to properly space the guide rods and the lift rod from one another and nuts 38 are threaded on the ends of the supporting bar 3! to hold the guide rods and. lift rod in their spaced positions. The body member I8 is preferably provided with an upstanding flange 40, the upper end of which is bored to receive a lift arm 41 which is bent downwardly to fit under supporting bar 3! so that on upward swinging movement of the lift arm 4! the supporting bar and the guide rods are lifted, the lift arm and guides being lifted by the supporting bar during this movement.

The lift arm 41 may be a single unitary piece or it may be formed of several pieces, and in the particular embodiment of the invention shown the lift arm has the lifting part 4| of rod-like structure and a lever portion 44 fixedly connected to lift portion 4! so that whenever the lever portion of the lift arm is swung upwardly the lifting portion 4| of the lift arm is swung upwardly, it being understood that the composite lift arm is formed of parts 41 arrdi44'. tripping lever 45 of any suitable construction is provided on the flush tank Ill-and fixedly-connected to a handle 47 so thatiupon pivotingof the handle 41 the tripping lever 45 is pivoted.

In prior devices, levers and links of various sorts have been used to connect the lifting arm and the trippinglever butias has been before brought out, this type of construction resulted in jamming. In thepresent' invention it is preferred to provide a chain 50 for connecting the lift arm and the tripping lever'and with this constructionthere is no chance of jamming of the parts. Chain 56 passes through a hoop or the likeifixedly mounted on the lever portion 44' of the lift arm and chain 50 has' a washer or the like on the lower end thereof.

It will be seen; thatthe guide rod 32 will contact the closed. end: of passageway l6 before the lift arm. 4| orthezsupporting bar 31 and thereforeguide rod 32 provides astop forrthemecha nism and. the parts areso constructed. that the tank ball 15 is allowed to thoroughly seat. on seat l4 before theguide rod 32 contacts the closed end. of; passageway 19.

whileallowing it to. seat satisfactorily andv also prevents the supporting bar 3| and the spacers and other parts from coming. in contact with body member l8, and therefore, lessening the likelihood of wear and jamming of the parts.

It will be appreciated that the guide rods and lift rod, the supporting bar and the spacers and the nuts may be replaced. easily and quickly as a unit whenever this is desired due to corrosion and wear of the parts.

Aswill be seen from Fig. 2, the lift rod and the guide rods. are guided by long passageways and.

this construction ensures that there is no chance of springing or misalignment of the lift rod and the guide rods 32 and 33 positively preventing rotation, turning, or twisting of the lift rod. IS with relation to the lift arm 4i, thereby preventing any possibility of incorrect engagement of the lift arrrr ll and the spacers 31 and supporting bar 3|. guide rod could be provided for the lift rod I6 or two guide rods could be provided as shown, the two-guide rod method serving. to more positively guide the lift rod than if there were only one guide rod.

This construction serves to prevent collapse of the tank ball l:

It will be appreciated that only one By providing the threaded adapters with left and right-hand threads the apparatus of the present invention can be applied to the overflow pipe of any type of flush tank and the tank ball [5 correctly positioned with relation to its seat, this being accomplished by merely rotating the threaded adapters 25 in the correct direction.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims;

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described adapted to be-=usedwith a flush tank comprising means 7 providing a plurality of vertically arranged parallel' guides, means for attaching the last named means to the overflow pipe of a flush tank, a li ft rod slidable within one of the guides to be guided thereby, a tank ball secured to the lower end of the lift rod to be carried thereby, a horizontally disposed supporting bar having; the lift rod connected thereto intermediate the ends ofthe sup-- porting bar, a pair of guidable members con-- nected to the ends of the supporting bar and slidable within other of the guides for preventing bodily rotation of the supporting bar and. for maintaining the supporting bar in a horizontal position, and meansv engageable with the supporting bar for lifting the. supporting bar. and the lift rod and the guideable members.

2. An apparatus of the class described adapted. to be used with a flush tank comprising. means providing aplurality of vertically arrangedparallelguides, means for attaching the lastnamed means to the overflow pipeof a flush tank, alift rod. slidable: within one; of. the. guides. to be guided. thereby, a tank ballsecured tothelower end of the liftrod. to.be. carried thereby, ahorizontally disposed supporting bar having the. lift rod connected thereto, a guidable member connected to the supporting bar at a point spaced.

from the pointof connection of the lift rod and.

slidable within another of the guides for. preventing bodily rotation'of the. supporting bar. and for maintaining the supporting bar in a.

horizontal position, and a. lift arm engageable beneath the supportingbar for lifting the sup-' porting bar and the lift rod and the guidable member.

GEORGE E. DRISKILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of. record my the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,626,255 Roth 1- Apr. 26-, 1927 1,660,749 Haas Feb. 28, 1928 2,168,742 O'Neill et a1 Aug. 8, 1939 2,257,292 DeGarmo Sept. 30, 1941 2,502,086 Gertz Mar. 28, 1950. 2,508,667 Fulton May 23, 1950 

